Ananya Panday: It’s great to learn about cinema by watching some of the stuff that the greats have created – Exclusive! – Times of India

At a time like this, we asked Ananya about the films she often revisits, the ones that inspire her and help her unwind after a long, tiring day. The Student of the Year 2 star says, “When I was growing up, I used to watch the same set of films over and over again because they would really comfort me. I loved Om Shanti Om, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum, and later I also enjoyed Luck By Chance and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. These are all my comfort films even today. I make it a point to go back to them once in a month at least, and if not all of them, then at one of them for sure. I have to play it and watch it from start to finish. That is something that puts me in a good mood, no matter how rough a day has been and how exhausted I feel. In the last two years, I’ve also begun to consume cinema from the world-cinema vertical. I’ve enjoyed some of the titles in Indian regional cinema, and I’ve been fairly amazed with what I’ve seen. It’s great to learn about cinema by watching some of the stuff that the greats have created.”

Talking of greats, when asked which artistes influence her, Ananya adds, “So many people! I have been a massive Alia Bhatt fan all along. I am vocal about it. I love her work and I love her spirit. I am always looking forward to her work. There’s so much she packs in, with so much nuance and novelty and she has some amazing pieces of work to her credit. Allu Arjun is another actor whose work I’ve just begun to follow and I think he is the coolest person ever. I make it a point to watch something new every day and get inspired by it in some form. Like I saw Closer and I loved Natalie Portman’s work. She was awesome in that character. So, the idea is to be inspired every day of the year.”

From the time Ananya came into the business, plenty of its dynamics changed. As an artiste, she has experienced it all, first-hand. With increasing competition from every nook and cranny, it’s becoming tougher for the younger actors to prove their mettle and make ample room for themselves. “This is what I wanted to do – be an actor. Being a working actor every single day of the year is what motivates me. So many of these actors existed for years but they’re shining now. Each good performance that I see drives me to do better. This is the time to be an actor. We are in fact really lucky that we are not tied down to a specific platform or medium. There’s nothing to take away from those films that will be watched in cinemas; they’re an experience. And there’s a thrill about doing those films that are made with a lot of freedom and that run the risk of saying things that are usually not spoken about or discussed. This is just a perfect chance to go all out and try different things,” Ananya ends.